Arkansas Trout Waters and Permits
N1.03 statewide and water-by-water trout rules, Code 27.01 permit reaches and the 2025-2026 AGFC releases.
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The Arkansas statewide trout limit, N1.03(A)
Unless specified otherwise in N1.03 (B) or Code 26.25 (Family and Community Fishing Program Restrictions), water bodies in Arkansas are restricted as follows: daily limit of 5 trout (all trout species combined). Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout, daily limit of 5, no length limits; Brook Trout, daily limit of 2, 14 inch minimum length limit; Brown Trout, daily limit of 2, 16 inch minimum length limit; Cutthroat Trout, daily limit of 2, 16 inch minimum length limit.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Beaver Tailwater trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: White River from 100 yards below Beaver Dam to boat ramp at Houseman Access.
- a. No fishing, boating, or wading within 100 yards of Beaver Dam.
- b. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish other than as specified for the paddlefish-snagging season.
- c. Bait fishing allowed only with a single, hooking point per pole.
- d. Trout Daily and Length Limits: Daily limit of 2 trout (all trout species combined); maximum length limit 14 inches.
- e. Only Rainbow Trout may be harvested from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
- f. From April 15 – June 15, snagging game fish is legal only from 100 yards below Beaver Dam from the Corps of Engineers “No Fishing Beyond This Point” sign downstream to the first Corps of Engineers boat ramp on the left descending bank to the first boat-launching ramp. Snagging must cease after half the daily limit of any game fish has been snagged. Snagged fish of any species shall not be released.
- g. Special Regulation Area: 1. Beaver Tailwater Special Regulation Area – From approximately 0.5 mile below Beaver Dam to approximately 100 yards upstream of Parker Bend Access, as indicated by signs.
- a. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- b. Chumming is prohibited.
Beaver Tailwater page with dam readings and accesses
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Bull Shoals Tailwater trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: White River from 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge at Guion.
- a. No fishing, boating, or wading within 100 yards of Bull Shoals Dam.
- b. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- c. Bait fishing allowed only with a single, hooking point per pole.
- d. Trout Daily and Length Limits: White River from 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to boat ramp at Norfork Access – Daily limit of 2 rainbow trout, 14 inch maximum length limit; all other trout species must be immediately released. White River from boat ramp at Norfork Access to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge – Daily limit of 2 trout; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches. Brook Trout – minimum length limit 14 inches, daily limit of 1; Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Trout – minimum length limit 24 inches, daily limit of 1.
- e. Only Rainbow Trout may be harvested from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
- f. Special Regulation Areas: 1. Bull Shoals Dam Catch-and-Release Area – Open to fishing from February 1 – October 31 from 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to the upstream boundary of Bull Shoals/White River State Park, as indicated by signs. 2. All trout caught must be immediately released. 3. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited. 4. Chumming is prohibited.
- g. Bull Shoals Dam Closed Area – the area 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to the wing dike at the Bull Shoals/White River State Park Trout Dock. This area is closed to fishing or wading November1 – January 31.
- h. Bull Shoals Dam Seasonal Brown Trout Catch-and- Release Area November 1 – January 31 – from the wing dike at Bull Shoals/White River State Park Trout Dock to the downstream boundary of the Bull Shoals/White River State Park. 1. All brown trout must be immediately released. 2. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited. 3. Chumming is prohibited. 4. No fishing 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
- i. Rim Shoals Catch-and-Release Area – From sign immediately above mouth of Jenkins Creek to the first electric power line downstream, as indicated by signs. 1. All trout caught must be immediately released. 2. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited. 3. Chumming is prohibited.
Bull Shoals Tailwater page with dam readings and accesses
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Norfork Tailwater trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: North Fork of the White River from 100 yards below Norfork Dam to the confluence of the White River.
- a. No fishing, boating, or wading within 100 yards below Norfork Dam.
- b. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- c. Bait fishing allowed only with a single, hooking point per pole.
- d. Trout Daily and Length Limits: Daily limit of 2 rainbow trout, 14 inch maximum length limit; all other trout species must be immediately released.
- e. Only Rainbow Trout may be harvested from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
- f. Special Regulation Area: 1. Norfork Catch-and-Release Area – From the downstream end of Long Hole to the Bill Ackerman River Ridge Walk-in Access (about 1-2 miles), as indicated by signs.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- c. Chumming is prohibited.
Norfork Tailwater page with dam readings and accesses
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Greers Ferry Tailwater trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: Little Red River from 100 yards below Greers Ferry Dam to the Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge.
- a. No fishing, boating, or wading within 100 yards of Greers Ferry Dam.
- b. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- c. Bait fishing allowed only with a single, hooking point per pole. .
- d. Trout Daily and Length Limits: Daily limit of 2 trout(all trout species combined); 14 inch maximum length limit.
- e. Only Rainbow Trout may be harvested from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
- f. Special Regulations Areas: 1. JFK Catch-and-Release Area (at John F. Kennedy Park below Greers Ferry Dam) – from 100 yards downstream from Greers Ferry Dam to approximately 0.5 miles downstream to the last Greer’s Ferry National Fish Hatchery effluent outfall in John F. Kennedy Park, as indicated by signs.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- c. Chumming is prohibited. 2. CowShoals Catch-and-Release Area – from the head of Cow Shoals to the mouth of Canoe Creek, as indicated by signs.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point per pole shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- c. Chumming is prohibited.
- d. Closed to night fishing from October 1 – December 31 (No fishing one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise). 3. Mossy Shoals Catch-and-Release Area – from the head of Dunham Shoals downstream to the end of Mossy Shoals, as indicated by signs.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited
- c. Chumming is prohibited.
Greers Ferry Tailwater page with dam readings and accesses
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Collins Creek trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: from its source in John F. Kennedy Park below Greers Ferry Dam to the confluence of the Little Red River.
- a. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- b. Catch-and-Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- c. Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- d. Chumming is prohibited.
- e. Fishing is limited to youths upstream of the wooden vehicle bridge in John
- f. Kennedy Park.
- g. Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.
- h. Downstream of the wooden vehicle road bridge in John F. Kennedy Park, fishing is limited to youths under age 16, anglers with a fishing license and a trout permit who are accompanying a youth under age 16 in the act of fishing, and mobility impaired anglers.
- i. Mobility impaired anglers shall fish from the mobility impaired access piers only.
- j. Mobility impaired card is required for mobility-impaired anglers in compliance with Addendum C1.11.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Dry Run Creek trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: from its source on the east side of Norfork National Fish Hatchery below Norfork Dam to the confluence with the North Fork of the White River.
- a. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- b. Catch-and-Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- c. Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- d. Chumming is prohibited.
- e. Fishing is limited to youths and mobility impaired anglers.
- f. Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.
- g. Mobility impaired anglers shall fish from the mobility impaired access pier or boardwalk only.
- h. Mobility-impaired card is required for mobility-impaired anglers in compliance with Addendum C1.11.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Blanchard Spring trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: Mirror Lake in Ozark National Forest; from its source to the confluence with North Sylamore Creek.
- a. An angler shall use no more than two fishing rods or poles and must attend them at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Spring River trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: from 100 yards below Dam No. 1 at Mammoth Spring State Park to the mouth of Myatt Creek.
- a. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend them it all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- b. Trout Daily and Length Limits: Daily limit of 5 trout (all trout species combined); only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches. Brown Trout – minimum length limit 16 inches.
- c. Only Rainbow Trout may be harvested from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
Spring River page
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Spavinaw Creek trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: Benton County; from its source downstream to the Arkansas Highway 59 bridge.
- a. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- b. Catch and Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- c. Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- d. Chumming is prohibited.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Narrows Tailwater trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: Little Missouri River from 100 yards below Narrows Dam to Muddy Fork Road.
- a. An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend them it all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.
- b. Trout Daily and Length Limits: Daily limit of 5 Rainbow Trout – no length limits; all brown trout must be released immediately.
- c. Special Regulation Areas: 1. Narrows Catch-and-Release Area – from 100 yards below Narrows Dam downstream to the upstream boundary of Riverside Park Access.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- c. Chumming is prohibited. 2. Narrows Summer Catch-and-Release Area – May 1 – October 15. Downstream from the upstream boundary of the Riverside Park Access to the gas line crossing above River Ridge Pool.
- a. All trout caught must be immediately released.
- b. Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- c. Chumming is not allowed.
Narrows Tailwater page with dam readings and accesses
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Big Spring trout rules, Arkansas
Reach: (at Cotter) from its source to the confluence with the White River.
- a. Fishing is limited to youths and disabled anglers. Youths must be accompanied by an adult when fishing. Adult disabled anglers must carry proof they are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled (Code 01.00- C) and possess a sport fishing, lifetime fishing, or combination hunting and fishing license, plus a trout permit.
- b. An angler may use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices may be used to catch fish.
- c. All fish caught must be released.
- d. Only artificial lures with barbless hook(s) may be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.
- e. Chumming is prohibited.
- f. Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.
- g. No fishing in the swimming hole at the upstream end of Big Spring, as indicated by signs.
- h. No motorized boats allowed in Big Spring.
AGFC Code of Regulations, N1.03(A), effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Arkansas waters that require a trout permit, Code 27.01
It is unlawful for persons 16 or older to keep trout from waters of the state or to fish without a valid trout permit on the following waters: A. Beaver Tailwater (White River below Beaver Dam) from Beaver Dam to the boundary signs at Houseman Access; B. Narrows Tailwater (Little Missouri River below Narrow Dam) from Narrows Dam to Muddy Fork Road (low-water bridge); C. Greers Ferry Tailwater (Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam) from Greers Ferry Dam to the Arkansas Highway 305 bridge; D. Norfork Tailwater (North Fork of the White River below Norfork Dam) from Norfork Dam to the confluence of the White River; E. Bull Shoals Tailwater (White River below Bull Shoals Dam) from Bull Shoals Dam to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge at Guion; and F. Spring River from 100 yards below Dam 1 at Mammoth Spring State Park downstream to the mouth of Myatt Creek. EXCEPTIONS: A. In compliance with Ch
| Permit | Code | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Trout Permit | TPR | $10 |
| Nonresident Trout Permit | TPN | $20 |
AGFC Code of Regulations, 27.01, effective July 1, 2026 (policy text), read November 8, 2026.
Arkansas trout rule news AGFC posted in 2025 and 2026
AGFC changed the tailwater trout limits twice in a few months: an emergency order in October 2025, then a Commission vote in January 2026 that took effect on February 1. The Code addenda effective July 1, 2026 now carry the tailwater rules quoted above, so only the release titles and dates are listed here; the rule text on this page comes from the Code.
- Commission approves emergency order for trout tailwaters; limits temporarily curtailedAGFC release, October 16, 2025
- AGFC passes new trout regulations for 2026AGFC release, January 17, 2026
Ozark and Delta water scenes that go with Arkansas Trout Waters and Permits
Photo: Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: robert thigpen, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Robert Nunnally, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Valis55, CC BY-SA 3.0
Arkansas trout water rule questions
What is the statewide trout limit in Arkansas?
daily limit of 5 trout (all trout species combined).
How many Arkansas waters have their own trout rules?
11 waters in N1.03(B): Beaver Tailwater, Bull Shoals Tailwater, Norfork Tailwater, Greers Ferry Tailwater, Collins Creek, Dry Run Creek, Blanchard Spring, Spring River, Spavinaw Creek, Narrows Tailwater and Big Spring.
When does an Arkansas angler need a trout permit?
Anglers 16 or older need one to keep trout from any Arkansas water or to fish the Code 27.01 reaches below Beaver, Narrows, Greers Ferry, Norfork and Bull Shoals dams and on the Spring River.
Is Dry Run Creek open to everyone?
No. Its N1.03(B) items limit fishing to youths and mobility-impaired anglers; read the items above.
Is Collins Creek catch-and-release?
Yes. Its N1.03(B) items make it a catch-and-release stream with single barbless artificial lures.
Are the emergency trout limits still in force?
The October 2025 emergency order was superseded; the Code addenda effective July 1, 2026 carry the tailwater rules on this page.
What do trout permits cost?
$10 resident and $20 nonresident, per AGFC.
Where are the tailwater pages?
On the Arkansas trout fishing page, one per tailwater with dam readings and access sites.